Mietta's Review
It's tiny and buried in a Little Bourke St basement but it's worth seeking out for its classic Japanese dishes. The speciality of chef/owner, Hiro Yano, is kushiyaki (griiled skewers done without oil). The excellent sashimi is amongst Melbourne's best.
Other published opinions
Age Good Food Guide 2010 Score: 13/20
Age Good Food Guide 2009 Score: 14/20
Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20
Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 14/20
Gourmet Traveller 2006 Australian Restaurant Guide "Cookie-cutter Japanese restaurants are thick on the ground in Melbourne, but Nihonbashi Zen distinguishes itself from the crowd with its authentic Tokyo-style take on the cuisine. The menu includes greatest hits - excellent sashimi, tempura and udon - but real treasure lies beyond the comfort zone."
Age Good Food Guide 2005 score 15/20
Gourmet Traveller 2005 Restaurant Guide "Nihonbashi Zen is a subterranean Japanese den you might easily walk past, yet within its narrow, contemporary confines lurks an uncompromising Japanese restaurant. Eating well at this chef-owned restaurant can be expensive, but immensely rewarding."
Herald Sun Stephen Downes 5/10/04 "Melbourne is bursting with Asian restaurants of all persuasions, and Nihonbashi Zen, in my view, is a poor option among them. It's expensive for what you get, and its food has to be far more magical at these prices. Service is poor, and the wine list is expensive and limited. Two whites and three reds are available by glass."
Age Cheap Eats 2004
Age Good Food Guide Awards 2004
Herald Sun, Sunday Magazine, 7/3/04, Sally Fisher
Age, Epicure, Unexplored Territory, Matt Preston, 20/8/02
Or perhaps ...
Caboose (03) 9663 4448, 4 City Sq, Melbourne
Chocolate Buddha (03) 9654 5688, Federation Square, 2 Swanston St, Melbourne - Casual, Australian/Japanese dining at a frantic pace. Set at the top of the slope at Federation Square.
Daishou Teppanyaki (03) 9670 8998, Shop 9, 343 Little Collins St off Equitable place, Melbourne
Dontoo 9670 7113, Shop 6, 330 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Eat Drink Bento (03) 9642 1136, 115 Hardware St, Melbourne
Hako 9620 1881, 310 Flinders La, Melbourne
Hanabishi (03) 9670 1167, 187 King St, Melbourne - A mixture of classical and minimalist Japanese design, this is one of Melbourne's finest Japanese restaurants.
Horoki 9663 2227, 19 Liverpool St, Melbourne
Ibuki Japanese Cuisine 9602 5555, 556 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
Izakaya Den 9654 2977, basement, 114 Russell St, Melbourne
Japanese Teppanyaki Inn (03) 9650 9431, 182 Collins St, Melbourne - A long established and well-respected business providing good, discreet service and excellent cooking on the teppanyaki plate.
Kenzan 9654 8933, , Collins Place, 45 Collins St, Melbourne - Watch a real master prepare your sushi at the bar or sit back and enjoy excellent table service or the seclusion of one of the private rooms.
Kenzan at GPO 9663 7767, Shop G28, Postal Lane, GPO, 350 Bourke St, Melbourne
Kuni's 9663 7243, 56 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - Kuni's is a favourite of many. You can enjoy a quick lunch, or a more relaxed meal in the light pine-furnished dining room.
Nihonbashi Zen 9639 7050, 87 Little Bourke St, Melbourne - A fine Japanese restaurant buried in a Little Bourke St basement. Good sashimi and kushiyaki.
Ramen Ya 9654 5838, shop 25g, gpo building, 350 Bourke St, Melbourne
Sakura Kaiten Sushi 9663 0898, Shop 1, 61 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Shou Sumiyaki (03) 9654 3933, , NULL, 160 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Shoya Japanese Restaurant 9650 0848, 25 Market Lane, Melbourne - A Japanese eating and drinking complex with a bewildering array of options. You'll have to find something you like in this good value establishment.
Snakepit (03) 9600 0900, 95 Queen St, Melbourne
Sushi Ten 9639 6296, Shop 14-15 Port Phillip Arcade, 228 Flinders St, Melbourne - Sushi Ten's black board menu of Japanese soups and rice dishes supplements its offering. All cheap, served happily and quickly, with the sushi and sashimi being the best bet.
Teppansan 9663 1938, 179 Russell St, Melbourne
Tomodachi (03) 9663 1940, , 211 Latrobe Street, Melbourne
Torimatsu (03) 9670 9683, 179 King St, Melbourne - Lunchtime here is filled with local business-people who enjoy good service from the owner, Takashi Mitsunaga.
Yen Sushi Place (03) 9663 0778, 12 Centre Place, Melbourne